Every year, like everyone else, I make a list of the family and friends who I want to get Christmas presents for. I try to think of what to get them and every year, too close to Christmas (and usually after I've already gotten them a Christmas presents), I think, I should have asked them a couple questions so I know what to get them.
Here are two lists. One where you can ask yourself some questions about the person, to see if you can figure a present out yourself, and a second list of questions to ask them, to get ideas for the perfect present.
I found a list online of questions to ask yourself. Here is the link and here it is below:
http://www.reindeerland.org/
Christmas Gift Questionnaire
Take all of the following questions into consideration to help you
select a suitable Christmas Present!
select a suitable Christmas Present!
- How much can you spend?
- How old is the person that you wish to buy the gift for?
- Is it a gift for a man or woman?
- What does the person do during their leisure times in the evening or at weekends?
- Do they enjoy outdoor or indoor activities?
- What is their favorite sport?
- What type of TV programs, movies or books would interest them? Comedies, romance, action, horror or dramas?
- Are they a music lover?
- Are they car crazy?
- Are they a gadget guru?
- Are they in to Computers or Electronics?
- Do they like clothes? Are they fashion conscious? Are they well dressed?
- Are they a proud parent / grandparent?
- Do they like animals? Have they got a pet?
- Are they into health and fitness? Do they love the gym?
- Do they like to be pampered?
- Are they into gossip and celebrities?
- Do they enjoy going out to the theatre or movies?
- Are they into Home improvements - DIY etc?
- Do they enjoy gardening
- Do they love plants or flowers?
- Are they travel enthusiasts? Do they love trains, boats or planes?
- Would they enjoy unusual experiences?
- Are they into photography? Or treasure family photos?
- Do they enjoy history and nostalgia?
- Do they enjoy cards or board games?
- Would they like some type of memorabilia? Keepsake presents?
- Do they enjoy enjoy eating and drinking well?
- What is their favorite food and drink?
- What does the person do for a living? Professional? Office? Trade? Retired?
- Do they enjoy model making or crafts? Are they artistic?
- Would they appreciate a religious or spiritual themed
- What has the person already got?
- What would the person really like?
- What type of gift would you like to buy them?
- A Practical gift
- A Funny Gift
- An Unusual gift
- A Personalized Gift
- A gift they would not buy themselves!
- A gift related to their business?
- A present related to a hobby or interest? - Remember that whatever gift or present you choose to buy they will be even more appreciated if they are beautifully wrapped!
Chances are, if you don't know what to get them, they don't know what to get you. If you visit someone often you can see what their house may be missing, or they might say they wish they had something, but I assure you, if you don't know what to get them, they are probably wondering the same for you. If you ask a couple questions, it shows you are interested in getting them something they would like and that is a good thing!
Here is 20 questions to ask.
Pick up the phone. Yes, that thing you text and Facebook on and forget has a dial tone... pick up the phone and call your family member. The reason? You can tell in their inflection as to whether or not, what you are asking, is something they are interested in receiving, and that will really help. If you e-mail them a list of questions, chances are, they won't fill it out and return it to you, so pick up the phone.
- For a quick meal where do you go? On lunch break? On weekends?
- For a nice restaurant, where do you go? Are there chain restaurants you like?
- Do you like fancy coffee to make at home or go out for coffee? Where?
- What is your favorite color?
- What is your favorite color to wear?
- Would you prefer a sweater or jacket? Size?
- Casual shirts or going out shirts? Size?
- What are you most comfortable wearing? Size?
- Do you need robes, slippers, belts, socks, purse, wallet?
- Do you need shoes or boots? What size? What color?
- Do you prefer candy or chocolate? What kind?
- Do you prefer body wash/bubble bath or perfume?
- Is there any jewelry you need? Earrings? Necklace? Bracelet? Watch? What kind? What color?
- What do you do for fun?
- Books? What kind? Romance, Comedy, Action, Horror, Drama? Paperback or E-book?
- Movies? DVDs or theater? Which theater?
- What is your favorite drink? Favorite drink to make at home?
- Do you need any appliances or need anything for the kitchen?
- Do you need anything for your home?
- Do you need anything for work? Clothes? Shoes?
Before you pick up the phone, go through the list and see which questions you actually want to ask. All questions might not apply. I highly recommend not asking someone who doesn't drink, what kind of drink they like. Just a suggestion.
The good think about asking a variety of questions is, they have no idea what you are going to get them. The good think about doing it on the phone is, they won't remember what questions you asked, and maybe, what answers they gave.
For next year, keep a list all year of gift ideas for your friends and family. That might make the gift giving easier. It's also a good idea to keep a list for yourself, because in the middle of February when I think, "Man, I'd really like a massage" when it hits Christmas, my birthday, or an anniversary, I can tell people what I'd like for a present and make their gift giving a little easier.
Happy Holidays!! Have a wonderful holiday season!
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